Here’s our monthly round up of upcoming events in Cancun, Riviera Maya & Yucatan.
Festival de los Oceanos, Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, May 13 – June 15
The Festival de los Oceanos offers a month of events in Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen celebrating the beauty of the seas. Events will showcase the diversity of marine life in the Mexican Caribbean, the threats the oceans are facing and what we can do to protect them.
Events include beach cleaning, mural painting and children’s activities, conferences given by leading marine biologists, a culinary festival, art contests, concerts and much more festivaldelosoceanos.com.mx
Noche Blanca, Merida, June 10
Museum Night comes to Merida once more; the city’s museums and art galleries will stay open until 2 a.m. and residents and visitors will also be able to enjoy dance performances and concerts, including one by legendary Yucatecan singer Armando Manzanero, in different open-air venues throughout the city center.
Hokol Vuh Food Festival, Merida, June 19-24
Leading chefs from Mexico and other countries are gathering in Merida in June for the Hokol Vuh, a culinary festival that pays tribute to Mayan cuisine and culture.
Nineteen star chefs including Enrique Olvera (Pujol, Mexico City), Jorge Vallejo (Quintonil, Mexico City), Roberto Solis (Nectar, Merida), Albert Adria (Enigma, Spain) and René Redzepi (Noma, Denmark and Tulum) have already confirmed their participation in the festival. The program features conferences, tastings, two 10-course dinners and a festival party.
The chefs will visit fishermen, bee keepers, farmers and renowned Mayan cooks before preparing recipes of their own inspiration celebrating the flavors of the Yucatan.
Scuba Fest 2017, Cozumel, June 20 – 25
For the fifth year running, divers, marine biologists, nature lovers and filmmakers will gather in Cozumel for Scuba Fest, an event celebrating the beauty of the island’s reefs. The keynote speaker is Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence and founder of the Mission Blue alliance, who will give a lecture on Diving in Mexico and ocean conservation initiatives.
Festival-goers will also see the premiere of Cozumel: un Paraiso en el Caribe Maya, a documentary about Cozumel and the Mesoamerican Reef directed by underwater filmmaker and photographer Karlos Simon.
167th Anniversary of the Settlement of Isla Mujeres, August 17
Isla Mujeres celebrates its anniversary in August, 167 years since the first settlers in the modern era founded the village of Dolores. Isla Fest events include processions, dance performances, live music and more.
Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Izamal, August 15, Izamal
Masses, processions, traditional dances and music in Izamal, a historic town in the Yucatan famous for its colonial convent and surrounding buildings all painted in bright yellow with a white trim. Izamal shares the distinction of being one of the Yucatan’s twin Pueblos Magicos or “Magical” Towns with Valladolid, a name given to smaller Mexican communities that are rich in history and traditions or are the site of natural wonders.
Mexican Independence, September 15 & 16
Mexico celebrates the anniversary of its Independence from Spain with delicious food, music and colorful festivities the night of September 15 and processions on September 16.
Xplor Bravest Race, Xplor Park, September 17
Xplor Bravest Race is a fun 5-kilometer race through the jungle with a course of 30 manmade and natural obstacles to test your strength and bring you into contact with the elements: water, earth fire and wind. One of the elements will be your ally during the challenge.
As you run through the jungle, you’ll encounter rival Elementals who will motivate you to race harder and also try and prevent you from reaching the finish line and steal your flag. With the help of your Element ally, you can defy them and even turn the tables on them taking their flags. Competitors who complete the race with flags representing all four elements are The Bravest.
Up to 3,500 people will be competing in this event. Minimum age of competitors is 16. http://en.xplorbravestrace.com/about-xplor-bravest-race.php
Fiesta del Cristo de Las Ampollas, September 27, Merida
The patron saint of Merida is honored with masses, pilgrimages, processions and traditional dances.
Festival Internacional de la Cultura Maya (FICMAYA), Merida, October 1 –23
Now in its sixth year, this celebration of Mayan culture past and present takes place in Merida, the Cultural Capital of the Americas 2017. Events will include seminars given by leading experts on Maya culture, poetry readings and theater, live music, dance and much more. It also features an offering of live transmissions from the famous Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato.
Festival de Vida y Muerte, Xcaret Park, October 30, 31, November 1 & 2
Hosted by Xcaret Park, the Festival of Life and Death Traditions showcases one of Mexico’s richest and most colorful customs, the Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos, which takes place on November 1 and 2. At this time of year, Mexicans believe that the souls of the departed come back to the world of the living for a short time. They welcome their loved ones with altars laden with flowers, food, treasured possessions and other offerings, and with candlelit vigils, masses and serenades.
The Festival program features processions, altars, traditional cuisine, art exhibits, music, dance, theater, children’s events and a visit to the colorful Mexican cemetery.
OHL Classic at Mayakoba, PGA golf in the Riviera Maya, November 6 to 12
A field of players that includes some of the PGA’s leading young players and several former champions gathers for the OHL Classic at El Camaleón Golf Club in Mayakoba.
Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, Playa del Carmen, November 30 – December 2
Playa Mamitas is the venue for this popular music event. The line up for the 2017 Festival has yet to be announced.
Keep checking the Royal Resorts blog for more events in Cancun, Riviera Maya & Yucatan during the year.
